Shortage of cyber security skills is damaging companies, report shows

A report from CSIS and Intel Security, entitled “Hacking the Skills Shortage”, found that there is a lack of cybersecurity talent in countries around the world, including the UK, the US, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Israel, and Mexico.

The report says that this causes “direct damage” to companies, and warns that thousands of job vacancies in the industry could remain empty.

Shortage

According to the report, over 80 per cent of businesses said that there is a shortage of skills in the industry, and 71 per cent believe that the lack of skills is directly to blame for damage caused by hackers.

Businesses also believe that 15 per cent of cybersecurity positions on average will continue to be empty by 2020, with spending, education and training, employer dynamics and government policies being identified as the areas in which there is a lack of cybersecurity talent.

Only 23 per cent of companies are preparing students for the cybersecurity industry, whilst 76 per cent said that governments are not investing enough.

Damage

Commenting on the report, CSIS Strategic Technologies Program Senior Vice President and Director James A Lewis said that a shortage of people with cybersecurity skills results in “direct damage to companies”, including the loss of proprietary data and IP.

He added: “This is a global problem; a majority of respondents in all countries surveyed could link their workforce shortage to damage to their organization.”